North Carolina
Maryland
Tar Heels Take Twinbill Over Terrapins
May 7, 2011 | Softball
May 7, 2011
COLLEGE PARK, Md. --- Lori Spingola shoved a complete-game shutout in game one and Carolina came-from-behind in game two to claim victories, 2-0 and 6-5, over Maryland Saturday afternoon at Robert E. Taylor Stadium. Kelli Wheeler registered three hits on the day to improve UNC to 32-19 overall and 13-6 in the ACC. The pair of victories secures a second place finish in the league standings entering the ACC Tournament May 13-15.
Game One
Spingola (25-14) allowed just three hits and struck out eight over a complete-game effort. The freshman moves into third place all-time in single season school history with 25 wins and seventh in single season school history with 10 complete-game shutouts.
Kelli Wheeler led the UNC attack with two hits and reached base three times. Senior Brittany McKinney provided both RBI with a two-out single. All Blake added a single as Carolina was limited to just four total hits.
Maryland ace Kerry Hickey labored in the top half of the first issuing two walks and hitting a batter to load the bases. McKinney mashed a two-out two RBI single up the middle to provide Carolina with an early 2-0 advantage.
The Terrapins threatened in the bottom of the second loading the bases with one out. Spingola rendered her first hit sandwiched between two walks. The freshman used a strikeout and groundout to escape the jam, preserving the two-run UNC lead.
Hickey and Spingola settled into a pitcher's duel in the middle innings. Runs proved to be at a premium as Hickey struck out the side in the third and Spingola retired five in a row to keep Carolina in front 2-0.
The Tar Heels posed another scoring threat in the top of the fifth. After a walk issued to Elisha Elliott, Wheeler walloped a double off the left field wall for her second hit of the day. Hickey halted the UNC scoring chance with back-to-back strikeouts to end the frame.
A wild bottom of the fifth featured a UNC error, illegal pitch and huge outfield assist from Wheeler in left to end the inning. The Terrapins earned a pair of two-out base runners before Bree Hanafin roped a single into left field. Wheeler rifled home as McKinney blocked the plate and applied the tag for the third out of the inning.
Spingola carried that momentum to sit down the next six batters she faced to give UNC the 2-0 game one victory.
Game Two
The second game featured three tie scores and two lead changes before UNC claimed the 6-5 win. Logan Foulks collected two doubles to pace a Carolina offense that mashed nine hits. Wheeler and Blake each posted a hit and RBI. Amy Nece notched a big two RBI double and Elisha Elliott, Kelsey Green, Haleigh Dickey and Brittany Robinson all added one hit apiece.
Sara Buchholz (7-5) earned the win allowing three runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings of relief. Spingola remained strong in the circle, allowing two runs, both unearned, and scattering six hits in 5 2/3 frames. The freshman reeled in her second save of the season retiring six batters in a row down the stretch.
Carolina threatened to score in the first three frames, but stellar Maryland defense kept UNC off the board. The Terps turned a pair of double plays as Maryland starter Kendra Knight faced the minimum through three.
Spingola picked up where she left off from game one, tossing three scoreless innings to start. The freshman scattered four hits, but did not give up a run through three.
Blake broke the scoreless tie with a two-out RBI single to right field in the fourth. The junior parachuted the first pitch she saw into right field to score pinch-runner Paige Williams and give Carolina a 1-0 lead after three and half innings.
The lead was shortlived as Spingola took a groundball off her throwing hand in the bottom of the inning. Bree Hanafin reached on an error and advanced to second on an errant throw. Hanafin moved to third on a long fly out to right field and later scored on another Tar Heel error. Marisha Branson then belted a double off the center field wall and later scored on a two-out pinch-hit single off the bat of Candice Beards. The Terps gained a 2-1 lead and that ended Spingola's day in the circle. Buchholz entered to record the final out of the frame, but not before Maryland found their first lead of the series.
The Tar Heels loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fifth, but failed to push any runs across the plate. Knight used a pair of groundouts as Maryland held a 2-1 lead over UNC.
The Terps tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the frame on three hits and one UNC error. A two-RBI Hanafin double provided the big blow as Maryland stretched their lead to 5-1 after five frames.
Carolina stormed back manufacturing five runs on three hits to regain the lead at 6-5. The inning featured three Terrapin pitchers. Pinch-hitter Cara Vitale drew a bases loaded walk, before Amy Nece belted a two RBI double to knot the score at five. Wheeler later scored Nece on a RBI sacrifice fly to give UNC a 6-5 lead.
Spingola reentered to pitch in the bottom of the sixth looking to hold the 6-5 lead. The freshman completed her spectacular day in the circle retiring six in a row to seal the win and earn her second save of the season.
With the two wins, Carolina secures a second place finish in the ACC with a 13-6 mark. UNC will be the second seed in the ACC Tournament in Atlanta, Ga., May 13-15.
The Tar Heels and Terps will conclude their three-game set Sunday at 1 p.m. from Robert E. Taylor Stadium.
